Backflip: Creative Australia Reinstates Artists Behind Hezbollah, Bin Laden Imagery

An Australian arts body said it made a mistake in initially banning an artistic duo from attending a global art exhibition.

Demonstrators hold flags and pictures of Hassan Nasrallah, late leader of the Lebanese group Hezbollah, at a protest rally in the central business district of Sydney, Australia on Sept. 29, 2024. Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images

An artistic duo whose works featured a Hezbollah leader in a glorifying light will represent Australia on the global stage despite being banned earlier in the year.

Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino had been selected by Creative Australia to represent Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale, a major international art exhibition showcasing creative works from around the world.